Here is every bit of information that you needed about Sedex audits…

Sedex Audit

Sedex is a non-profit membership organization that is focused on bringing betterment to ethical business practices that are followed across the globe. The organization provides an ethical supply chain data through its secure online database. The retailers can easily check how their suppliers are fulfilling their ethical and social responsibilities. Currently, there are more than 36,000 members of Sedex in more than 150 countries, so it can truly be called a global organization. 

There are two main objectives of Sedex: 

• To lessen the burden on suppliers by reducing the requirement for many audits, certifications, and questionnaires. 
• To improve the ethical performance across global supply chains. 

Simply putting it, suppliers can now have the Sedex audits performed right at their site to check whether or not they are fulfilling their social and ethical responsibilities relating to employees and work culture.

The results of the audit are uploaded on the Sedex platform so that the customers of the suppliers can identify the issues and resolve them. 

What areas are covered by the Sedex audit?

Sedex audit is performed as per the SMETA Best Practice Guidance standards and is aimed at reviewing the ethical performance of a company. 

Two Pillar Audits include the following:

• Healthy and safety
• Labour standards

Four Pillar Audits include the following beside the aforementioned points:

• Business ethics
• The environment 

Every one of these areas is audited to review the compliance and ascertain whether or not the employees are being treated correctly. Sedex audit also seeks to ensure that the company operates ethically towards all its stakeholders. 

What are the benefits for a buyer?

It can be extremely difficult to monitor the suppliers who are spread all across the globe. Now, it is not as simple as choosing a supply chain by only considering the quality, price, and delivery time. There is a responsibility to ensure that the suppliers are operating in an ethical manner and taking their corporate social responsibility seriously. The Sedex audit platform seeks to verify that the suppliers are functioning in a just manner. These Sedex audits are performed by accredited, qualified, and experienced auditors who work as per the SMETA guidelines.

What are the benefits for a supplier?

It is important for the suppliers to demonstrate to their customers that they follow ethical practices and take their corporate social responsibility seriously. The ethical trade auditing, that is uploaded on the Sedex platform, is an easy and practical manner in which this can be done in a transparent and cost-efficient way. The supplier members of Sedex can easily share data with many customers. This demonstrates adherence and decreases overall auditing costs.